AUM voice heard over end of gov’t surveillance

Government intelligence officers will interview the AUM Shinrikyo doomsday cult to decide whether a tough watch over the group will continue after the scheduled surveillance period expires at the end of January.

Designated as a group “that could undermine public order,” the cult has been under surveillance by the Public Security Investigation Agency and ordered to report its activities regularly.

Yet the term of the special watch is slated to finish Jan. 31 leading the government agency to file a request with the Public Security Examination Commission that the strict surveillance continue.

In response to the agency’s request, AUM members on Tuesday tabled a report apparently asking the commission to turn it down.

Under the law, surveillance renewal reviews normally involve simply screening submitted requests. However, the commission decided to give the cult a chance to explain its reasons for requesting that the government watch be lifted.